Law stood on the other horn, drenched in cold sweat as he sensed the ancient, beast-like aura rising from inside the skull.
Below, Queen's expression changed.
"It's you! That lightning brat!"
Enel had been a kid back then, but he had not changed much. Especially that infuriating tone. It made Queen remember him instantly.
King returned to human form and placed a hand on his sword hilt.
"What lightning brat. He's an admiral candidate from Marine Headquarters. 'Hakuryu' Enel. Idiot, Queen."
A vein throbbed on Queen's forehead. "I know more than you, stupid King! He's one of Sakazuki's trusted men."
He turned to Enel. "Why are you here, Enel."
His stance tightened, ready to explode at any moment.
Enel looked at him like he was an idiot and answered, "Of course I came because I need something from you. Why else would a marine officer like me come here? Idiot, Queen. Call your boss out. We need to talk about a collaboration that concerns your future."
Queen glared at King first, then transformed into his brachiosaurus form.
"Pirates and the Marines have nothing to talk about."
King drew his blade as well.
Enel stayed where he was, sitting on the horn with one leg crossed, chin resting on his hand as he watched from above.
On the opposite horn, Law shouted with sweat running down his face.
"He woke up!"
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed, paired with a rising wave of Conqueror's Haki that beat like war drums.
A shadow carrying a kanabo stepped out of the skull, his expression dark and cold.
Kaido emerged, raised his head slightly and spoke in a deep voice.
"You just said… cooperation?"
Enel replied with a light tone, "Yeah. Cooperation."
Kaido suddenly grinned maliciously. "Sakazuki and Sengoku just split. And he already wants to work with pirates. Interesting… Did Sakazuki forget the grudge between us? And he even sent someone to die."
Before the last word faded, he began stretching upward endlessly, turning into a massive azure dragon. Energy gathered in his mouth.
"Demolition Gust!"
His killing intent and Conqueror's Haki crashed toward Enel, who let out a short breath.
Crackle!
He vanished.
Kaido's enormous dragon eyes turned toward Law.
Feeling the pressure shift his way, Law cursed inwardly, 'Damn that lightning bastard… I knew it…'
He thrust out his hand. The circle spun rapidly.
"ROOM!"
Whoosh!
He teleported.
A huge boulder appeared where he had stood and was shredded into dust by countless storm-like slashes.
Law regained his footing and tried to jump again when a presence locked onto him. Flames wrapped around King's blade as he swung, sending out a blazing dragon.
"Imperial Flaming Wings!"
Law drew his own blade, covered it in Haki, and blocked.
Clang!
He skidded back step by step, unable to withstand the force.
King's blade suddenly loosened and smashed into the ground, leaving a crater. Law flashed away once more.
On the other side, Kaido, still in his dragon form, lifted his head.
A blinding white light burst above the island, bright enough to turn night into day. It even made his dragon eyes narrow.
Boom!
A lightning giant tens of meters tall dove from the clouds. It moved too fast to dodge. One hand grabbed Kaido's throat, the other drove a lightning club downward.
The lightning titan and the massive dragon crashed to the ground, shaking the entire island.
Sparks exploded everywhere, but the compressed lightning that formed the thunder club barely harmed Kaido.
He twisted his huge body and tore himself free, jaws opening wide. He then bit into the lightning giant's shoulder and ripped half its body clean off.
The lightning giant didn't fight back. Instead, it stared at the dragon gathering energy in its mouth and mocked it.
"In business, you're overshadowed by Knox.
"In reputation, you're overshadowed by Big Mom.
"In strength, Shanks overtook you.
"In—"
BOOM!
Blast Breath collided with the lightning giant, triggering a massive explosion.
A mushroom cloud rose into the sky and sent shockwaves across Wano. The whole island trembled like an earthquake.
At the heart of the blast, Kaido returned to human form, expression dark.
"You really are cut from the same cloth as Sakazuki… I'd love to tear your mouth open and see what's inside, brat."
Enel reformed and stood across from him.
"But you're too slow."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a Den Den Mushi, and tossed it toward Kaido.
"Catch."
Smack.
Kaido raised a hand and caught it.
Enel smiled and called out to Law, who was desperately dodging King and Queen's attacks.
"We're done here!"
He turned into lightning and disappeared.
Law teleported away from a slash and a laser blast, cursing as he activated his ability.
Whoosh!
King and Queen, losing their target, returned to human form and walked to Kaido's side.
"Kaido-san."
"Boss."
Kaido nodded, calm now. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the Den Den Mushi and pressed the button.
Bloop.
The snail powered on, changed its expression, and Sakazuki's cold voice came through.
"Kaido…"
Kaido responded with a low voice tinged with killing intent.
"Sakazuki…"
* * *
A moment later.
Kaido hung up with a blank expression.
Queen looked stunned after hearing everything. King frowned deeply.
Suddenly, Kaido laughed. "Worororo! Interesting. Too interesting. An offer no one could refuse. King. Gather the information. Start preparing."
King hesitated a bit, then said, "Kaido-san, the Revolutionary Army is stirring trouble across the Four Blues, and the Marines are splitting apart now. Sakazuki's goal is obvious. He wants the New World in chaos. To buy time for the Marines. If we act now, aren't we playing into his hands?"
Kaido narrowed his eyes. "So what. The benefits are too great to refuse, and we barely need to do anything. That's what makes him terrifying…"
That man was ruthless, and his mind was even darker. Even when he schemed against others, he made sure the offer was impossible to reject. The gains were simply too large.
Kaido's wariness toward Sakazuki deepened again.
King fell silent. It was true.
Putting aside the rivalry between Marines and pirates, the deal itself was irresistible.
And even with the opposing stances, loyalty meant nothing here.
The Four Emperors were already clashing among themselves. Sakazuki was setting up others, and all they had to do was pick up the pieces.
His purpose was clear, and he wasn't even hiding it. He wanted the New World in chaos.
But the profit was overwhelming, and someone else would take the fall anyway, so refusing made no sense.
King took a deep breath. "I understand. I'll gather the information now."
**
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